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A quality vacuum cleaner will help you maintain a clean and healthy home. A great vacuum doesn't just remove dirt; it also removes allergens like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. Our tests show big differences between competing models, and paying more does not guarantee you will get a better product.
We've purchased 170+ vacuums and put each one through rigorous testing, logging how well they clean common floor types, how much dust they capture versus get released back into the air, and how easy they are to use. In this review, I will share a list of the models we recommend.
The best vacuum for most people is the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight stick vacuum. It's one of the easiest vacuums we have ever used while still providing great cleaning performance. And it is cordless, which makes it super-easy to grab out of the closet, to instantly clean up a mess.
For deep cleaning, we recommend the Shark Stratos upright vacuum. It does an amazing job cleaning both carpet and hard floors. It also does a great job of capturing dust and allergens in its HEPA filter dustbin rather than letting them escape and degrade your home air quality.
If you're looking for a budget option that performed well on our cleaning tests, yet at an affordable price, check out the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse.
Editor's Note: this review was updated on May 21, 2025, to include a new pick, Dyson V15 Detect.
Who It's Best For: If you're tired of dealing with cords, the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight makes life so much easier—no more plugging in, unplugging, or dragging it around furniture. “It's the vacuum I grab most often for my cleanups around the house, and a great upgrade if you're ready to move on from a bulky traditional model,” mentioned one of our vacuum testers. Cordless stick vacuums are great for apartments and smaller houses, but can still be useful in larger spaces if you're tackling one area at a time. Just keep in mind the shorter battery life, which may require recharging between longer sessions.
Why We Love It: It does impressively well on carpets and hard surfaces due to its double roller head. A unique design by Shark, it combines a soft roller for hard floors with a standard one for carpets, outperforming typical single-head designs by giving you the best of both worlds in one pass. And those annoying, awkward bits like cereal or leaves? While many vacuums just push them around, this one actually picks them up without the fuss. “I also appreciated the foldable wand, which bends outward to make cleaning under furniture easier,” noted our lead tester, Rachael, “saving my back in the process.” Compared to the bulk of an upright and the awkward trailing of a canister, this cordless design felt refreshingly nimble and freeing to work with.
Should You Buy It? It's not the strongest when it comes to cleaning deep debris, especially sand in plush carpets, and the limited battery life and small dustbin felt like I had to be strategic in segmenting my cleaning routine. For larger homes or heavy-duty cleaning, a corded upright might be the better choice. While its mid-range price is higher than many corded models, the Vertex's versatility, converting to a handheld and tackling a variety of surfaces, reassured me of its long-term value. Ultimately, I find the reduced effort in cleaning makes the Vertex a rewarding choice every time I use it.
It's a major difference when working with a convenient stick vacuum compared to a conventional corded model. Less time and hassle spent cleaning means more time for ourselves, something we truly appreciate.
Who It's Best For: If you want cordless convenience without overspending, the Levoit LVAC-200 offers standout performance at a budget-friendly price. It's a great fit for apartment dwellers, college students, or anyone outfitting a smaller home with mostly hardsurfaces or low-pile carpet. Its compact design and low-maintenance upkeep make it ideal for those who want reliable cleaning without the hassle. While it may not be ideal for shag carpets or houses with pets, it's a great pick if you're curious about stick vacuums and don't want to fully commit just yet.
Why We Love It: During testing, what impressed me most was how simple and user-friendly this vacuum felt at every step. Its lightweight design made it easy to maneuver, and the cleaning results came surprisingly close to those of much more expensive models, especially on low-pile carpet, where it cleaned best. Emptying the dustbin was quick, and cleaning the filters and brush roller was straightforward. “I felt like everything about this vacuum was designed with simplicity and convenience in mind,” mentioned our lead reviewer.
Should You Buy It? Its lower power means it takes more passes to fully lift debris, which cuts into the quick, effortless feel that makes cordless stick vacuums so appealing. It also struggles with deep cleaning thicker carpets and pulling out embedded pet hair, while corded vacuums at the same price point deliver stronger suction to overcome these challenges. Still, while its suction limits how much you can rely on it as your primary vacuum, it's a smart choice for routine touch-ups and smaller messes. For the cost, I think you'll get plenty of utility without sacrificing convenience.
Here you can see the stark difference in cleaning performance of cheaper stick models. The Levoit (left) did a good job in our stringent tests, leaving only a small amount of debris, while the Homeika (center) left so much sand that you can see a haze that left the carpet looking dirty, and the Bissell (right) tended to make more of a mess than actually clean.
Who It's Best For: The Shark Stratos is best for households that need a vacuum built for deep, thorough cleaning, especially in larger homes with a mix of floor types. This upright is great for high-traffic areas, homes with pets, and anyone prioritizing top cleaning performance. Its HEPA filter is very effective, making it an ideal choice for those with allergies or asthma.
Why We Love It: During testing, this vacuum impressed us with its strong cleaning across all surfaces—especially hardwood, where it often cleared debris in just a single pass. “While I know it can't match the agility of a stick vacuum,” noted one of our testers, “it stands out among other uprights thanks to its smooth glide, tight swivel steering, and rollers that I felt nearly propel it forward.” The detachable canister added welcome versatility for me as I was actually able to clean under furniture, as many uprights simply cannot.
Should You Buy It? If your home demands powerful, whole-house cleaning and you don't mind a larger machine, this vacuum delivers excellent value. It's not ideal for plush rugs, where it needs multiple passes, and the fixed brush roller makes clearing tangled hair more frustrating. If you've got a ton of thick carpet, the Kenmore Intuition is a standout amongst ALL vacuums for its ability to clean not only conventional carpet, but rugs too. But for mixed flooring and homes that need serious cleaning power, the Stratos stands out for its cleaning performance and surprising ease of use.
There are so many things to love about this vacuum: a decent bin size, great roller head design, and this Lift-Away feature shown makes it actually possible to clean under your furniture.
Who It's Best For: For those looking to spend less without giving up cleaning performance, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse is a top budget pick out of all vacuums we have tested. At around $200, this vacuum is great for anyone who wants a smaller, compact upright. While it skips the bells and whistles of high-end models, if you simply want a vacuum with the best overall performance for the price, this is it.
Why We Love It: This vacuum stood out in testing for its ability to handle everything from fine dirt to large debris like cereal—something many budget vacuums struggle with. Instead of pushing messes around, the vacuum head uses wide openings to let larger debris reach the brush roller, while at the other end of the spectrum, the bristles help loosen and lift difficult material like sand. This successful design gave it better overall cleaning performance than most uprights in its class, including “surprisingly effective pickup on shag carpet—a surface where I find many vacuums fall short,” noted our lead tester, Rachael.
Should You Buy It? The impressive value comes with a few compromises. It doesn't steer as smoothly as higher-end uprights, and it lacks the sleek look and durable feel of more premium models. Its one standout feature, a rail that lets the canister slide up and down for better access under furniture, “felt a bit underwhelming and finicky in practice,” noted another team member. I recommend this model to friends who don't care about the premium extras and just want a reliable cleaner at an affordable price.
Who It Is Best For: The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Powerline is great for those who want powerful cleaning. If you don't mind pulling a canister behind you in exchange for better reach, lighter handling at the wand, and a large dust bag, this product delivers one of the best overall cleaning experiences I've seen in a canister vacuum and makes the most sense for homes with lots of hard flooring.
Why We Love It: It delivered the strongest suction we've ever measured in our lab, making it a standout among all vacuum types. That power translated to excellent hard floor performance, with visible results after just one pass. Its oversized 4.5-liter bag held far more than most, “meaning I needed fewer emptying trips—and because it's a bagged model, there were no clouds of dust to deal with!” exclaimed one of our testers who is sensitive to dust. While pulling the canister took me a while to get used to, the lightweight wand was a perk compared to an upright, giving me the ability to clean under and on top of furniture easily.
Should You Buy It? Carpet performance isn't its strong suit, largely because it lacks a motorized roller to help agitate fibers of the carpet, so fine debris like rice or sand takes a few extra passes to fully lift. It also lacks onboard storage for attachments, and the cost of replacement bags can add up. But if you're looking for something built to last, easy to maintain, and serious suction power, this vacuum provides a niche need for homes with mostly flooring.
Who It's Best For: Handheld vacuums shine when you need a compact, quick-reach solution—and the Black+Decker Furbuster AdvanceClean+ is a top contender in this category. If your main vacuum struggles to reach into car crevices, stairs, or windowsills, this model fills that gap with power and portability. It's particularly useful for pet owners and parents dealing with constant spot messes, especially when hauling out a full-size vacuum feels like overkill.
Why We Love It: “Its strong suction and motorized brush tool gave it a clear edge over other handhelds in my testing,” noted Rachael, our lead tester for this vacuum category, “especially when tackling fur and stubborn debris.” The integrated crevice tool made it easy to reach into tight corners, and the relatively large bin emptied cleanly with a single button press—a similar design to stick vacuums and an upgrade compared to so many awkward bin designs of other handhelds.
Should You Buy It? It won't replace a full-size vacuum—and it's not meant to—but its solid cleaning power, versatile attachments, and user-friendly design make it more than just a convenience tool. “The battery limits long sessions, and the frame's a bit bulkier than ideal,” noted another tester, “but in practice, I rarely felt held back.” It also costs far less than stepping up to a full cordless stick, making it a smart supplement if you already have a reliable primary vacuum. If your routine is missing a targeted spot cleaner, this one's an easy add that's worth it.
Who It's Best For: The Milwaukee M18 0880-20 is a great fit for contractors, DIYers, or anyone needing a rugged, no-fuss shop vac that handles ANY wet or dry mess. It's especially useful for jobsites, garages, or workshop spaces where cleanup includes a mix of soaked carpets, sawdust, and heavy debris. If you want a vacuum that doesn't need to be babied and can tackle a wide range of messes, this one delivers—without the bulk of traditional rolling shop vacs.
Why We Love It: Its compact, toolbox-style design makes transport and storage easier than most shop vacs, and the onboard hose routing is a standout feature. As our lead tester, Austin Palmer, noted, “The hose routing runs straight into the can—a far better design than the clog-prone elbow I tested on other models.” Add to that the integrated self-retracting hose and onboard tool storage, and you've got a smart, streamlined machine that was well thought out.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for a powerful, portable vacuum that skips the bells and whistles in favor of strong performance and solid design, this shop vac is worth the price. That said, its runtime is shorter than average, and it struggled with standing water due to a less-than-ideal floor attachment, not a lack of power. It's heavier than I thought, especially since I needed to lift it rather than roll it around my garage. Still, its 91-inch hose offsets that somewhat by minimizing how often you need to move it.
Once you go beyond simple messes around the house or need a reliable vacuum to handle tough debris in the workshop, reach for the M18. It can handle the worst of the worst.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Performance Across Floor Types
Our reviews evaluate each of the typical surface types found in homes: low pile, hile pile (rugs or shag carpet), and hardwood. This selection of top performers below, spanning diverse vacuum types, allows for a direct comparison of their cleaning performance, irrespective of their category.
Cleaning Performance Across Floor Types
Product
Low Pile
High Pile
Hardwood
Kenmore Intuition Upright
97
73
84
Eureka OmniVerse Upright
92
65
94
Shark Stratos Upright
97
52
97
Miele Classic C1 Canister
91
54
100
Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight
90
56
96
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister
88
49
99
Shark Stratos Cordless
83
53
97
Shark Detect Pro Cordless
75
40
97
Levoit Cordless
86
42
77
Some vacuums are built with specific surfaces in mind—like the Shark Detect Pro, a slim, lightweight model that excels at light messes on hard floors. Its compact design and smaller motor make it less suited for lifting deeply embedded debris, but ideal for everyday surface cleaning. That's why knowing what kind of flooring you have around the house can make all the difference when picking the right vacuum.
While our top picks, as noted above, reflect overall performance, including ease of use, pet hair, filtration, and value, this next group of award winners is all about raw cleaning power. These vacuums rose to the top in our toughest cleaning tests, proving they can handle the messiest floors with the fewest passes. If deep cleaning is your top priority, start here.
Who It's Best For: If your home is full of thick carpets and area rugs, the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is one of the best-performing vacuums we've ever tested. This model topped our carpet tests—especially on high-pile rugs, where many vacuums struggled. It's a strong choice for users who prioritize deep carpet cleaning above all else and don't mind managing a bagged system to get top-tier results.
Why We Love It: Despite average suction on paper, it managed to pick up deeply embedded debris like rice and sand, thanks to its vacuum head design and long-bristled roller. It also handled larger debris without pushing it forward, which is a common issue in other uprights. The vacuum was easy to maneuver for its size, and the generously sized dust bag meant fewer interruptions during cleaning.
Should You Buy It? If carpet is your top priority, this upright is your best bet, and a strong value, making it an easy recommendation. It's not the best fit for homes with pets, where it struggled with fur pickup, or for hard floors, where it occasionally left debris behind. While the need to replace bags adds some long-term cost, the benefit is a cleaner disposal process. Its design may feel a bit old-school, and maneuverability declines as the bag gets filled, but if your main goal is tackling thick carpet, nothing in our testing performed better.
A close look at the differences of top performers cleaning high pile carpet in each vacuum category. Our tester noted that the Kenmore Intuition could easily clean up the rest of the testing material with additional passes, where many other products plateaued and couldn't grab finer material below.
Who It's Best For: If your home is mostly bare floors, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a smart, affordable pick. Since bare floors don't require as much suction or agitation as carpets, I find this vacuum's simple design works remarkably well. In our canister vacuum review, it stood out for delivering strong cleaning results without the need for a powerful motor or premium price tag.
Why We Love It: The Mighty Mite picked up 99% of debris in our hard floor tests, effortlessly handling large particles and stuck-on dirt. Its stiff bristles and wide opening make quick work of messes. Unlike most vacuums that clean best when pushed forward, this one picks up more effectively when pulled back. “It felt a little odd at first, but I got used to it quickly,” noted our lead tester, Lesley. The foot-activated bristle control makes it easy to switch between surfaces without stopping, but one of the best things about this vacuum is how lightweight and compact it is. I found it much easier to store and maneuver than bulkier canister models.
Should You Buy It? If you mostly need a vacuum for bare floors and don't want to overspend, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a great value. It's not built for carpets—there's no brush roller, and the wand can loosen occasionally—but for everyday messes on hard surfaces, it offers efficient, reliable performance under $100.
The Mighty Mite is small, but certainly mighty with its effective cleaning power on hard surfaces and pet fur. We also like that it's not as bulky and heavy as a conventional canister.
Who It's Best For: At one end is the no-frills Eureka Mighty Mite; at the other, the Dyson V15 Detect offers the ultimate luxurious package for your hard surface cleaning needs. This vacuum is for the person who wants it all. It's got all the bells and whistles like adjustable cleaning suction, specialized floor heads, and a slew of attachments that someone would want from a premium price tag, making it a vacuum that will help you out, and honestly, fun to use.
Why We Love It: One of the coolest features I've seen recently in vacuum testing is the laser head on this vacuum. “Designed specifically for hard surfaces, it lights up the floor, revealing tiny dust particles I didn't even know existed,” noted one of our vacuum specialists. “This helped me spot and target the areas that needed attention the most.” It's also surprisingly powerful for a stick vacuum, too. Most of the time, one pass was enough to get the job done, and the soft, fluffy brush left the floors looking polished and super clean.
Should You Buy It? The biggest drawback to this product is the high price tag. If you don't mind investing in this product, it's nice to know that it also vacuums carpet well. Because the motor is large for a stick vacuum and there's a trigger you need to hold, it can feel fatiguing to use just after a short time. However, this vacuum cleans efficiently—most of the time, I only needed one pass on hard surfaces, which really cuts down how long I have to spend using it. Ultimately, I love this vacuum and full-heartedly recommend it for most flooring, especially bare floors that need constant cleaning, as long as you're okay with the investment.
The laser on the side of the vacuum head highlights dirt so you know exactly where to focus, making it much easier to get your floors truly spotless.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Say Goodbye to Pet Hair
As pet owners, we know the struggle of dealing with the endless shedding of our furry family members. To fight back against pet hair, your best bet is a vacuum with a brush head featuring stiff bristles that can grab those stubborn strands, combined with strong suction to lift clumps of hair. Bonus points if the hair doesn't get tangled in the bristles or stuck in the roller.
We use an overflowing handful of real fur (some from our helpers above) to conduct our pet hair tests. We massage every strand into carpets to replicate what many pet owners see in their homes on a daily basis.
Who It's Best For: If you're dealing with pet hair across floors, furniture, and stairs, the Shark Rotator LA502 is a versatile upright vacuum that's especially well-suited for pet owners. It stood out not just for its excellent carpet cleaning, but for its ability to handle fur throughout the home—something many vacuums struggle to do well. It's ideal for users who want strong, consistent performance, with uninterrupted power and a large dustbin—built to work through every room and capture every last strand of pet hair.
Why We Love It: This model includes a motorized brush attachment and a detachable base, making it easier to clean pet beds, stairs, and upholstery—areas where fur tends to collect. While I like cordless stick or handheld vacuums for these tight spaces, they come with limitations in battery life and dustbin size. The Rotator offers a more robust alternative, delivering powerful suction, larger capacity, and better runtime for deeper cleaning sessions—the kind most of us rely on when tackling the messes our furry friends leave behind.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for one vacuum that can handle pet hair on carpets, hard floors, and furniture, this vacuum delivers excellent value. It's not without a few drawbacks—its canister mode doesn't power the main floor head, so you'll need to stick to the attachment provided, and some fine debris like sand remained on the filter during testing—but those are minor compromises for a machine this capable. For pet owners tired of underpowered vacuums that leave strands of fur everywhere, this compact yet powerful model offers a whole-home solution.
Pet owners will rejoice at seeing the Rotator's ability to suck up fur. This vacuum performed exceptionally well on low-pile carpets and upholstery, surpassing others in our testing.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Breath Easy: Understanding Vacuum Filtration
Dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens can accumulate on floors and furniture, exacerbating respiratory issues for allergy-prone individuals. A high-quality filtration system guarantees that these particles are captured and sealed within the vacuum, improving air quality and reducing allergic reactions. Due to the health implications of vacuum filtration, we created a new test metric to assess filter efficacy.
We place a third of a cup of flour on the floor and vacuum it up while these two meters measure how much fine dust gets released into the air - giving us a clear idea of how well each vacuum contains our mess.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
During filtration testing, we track the amount of small airborne particles (ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 microns), as these are especially harmful to humans—they can bypass the respiratory system's defenses and reach deep into the lungs, even entering the bloodstream. Generally, the lower the count, the better. As a reference, Dylos, a specialist in air quality monitoring, refers to readings of 75 count or lower as excellent air quality and at the end of the other spectrum, any reading over 3,000 particles as very poor.
Filtration Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Small Particle Count
Dylos Air Quality Designation
HEPA
Shark Stratos
Upright
9
Excellent
Miele C3
Canister
26
Excellent
Levoit LVAC
Cordless Stick
34
Excellent
✖
Dyson Gen5detect
Cordless Stick
37
Excellent
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Cordless Stick
41
Excellent
✖
Shark AI Ultra Robot
Robot
67
Excellent
✖
iLife V3S Pro Robot
Robot
237
Good
✖
Bissell CleanView
Upright
1,521
Poor
✖
Black+Decker Powerseries+
Cordless Stick
1,542
Poor
✖
Bissell Zing Bagless
Canister
1,953
Poor
✖
Most vacuums do a great job to contain the debris they suck up. However, broad trends show that some budget options are prone to leakages, causing a spike in particulate counts and raising concerns that you should be aware of. We have noted some of our favorite vacuums to compare against the poor contenders mentioned above. Each canister, cordless stick, and upright vacuum is tested in our lab, with results shared on the product's review page and compared against others in its category within our best-in-class review. To learn more information on our new testing, head to our article on how we test each vacuum.
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are often marketed as the gold standard, but they're not the only path to top-tier filtration. While HEPA certification does guarantee strong performance, some proprietary systems can match—or even outperform it. For instance, the Levoit cordless vacuum uses an impressive multi-stage filtration setup that recorded particle levels lower than some HEPA models in our testing.
And it's not just about the filter itself—factors like the quality of seals, the number of filters, and how they're arranged all play a big role in how well a vacuum traps pollutants. Vacuuming is also just the first part of the process; don't forget about dumping the bin and maintenance.
Who It Is Best For: The Samsung Bespoke Jet is ideal for anyone who wants a vacuum that keeps things cleaner—not just on the floor, but throughout the entire cleaning process. It's a great match for allergy sufferers or anyone who's tired of dealing with the mess and dust clouds that come with emptying traditional vacuums. If your home has mostly hard floors or low-pile carpet and you want a low-maintenance, hygienic cleaning routine from start to finish, this vacuum fits the bill.
Why We Love It: What makes this vacuum stand out is its focus on cleanliness throughout the entire process—not just while vacuuming, but during emptying, too. Its self-emptying station transfers debris into a sealed bag at the push of a button, keeping dust and allergens contained. As one tester put it, “The bag can be easily removed and discarded, avoiding the typical plume of dust that explodes when I empty a bagless canister.” It's a thoughtful system that made the vacuum feel more hygienic and hassle-free in day-to-day use.
Should You Buy It? It's pricier than most cordless models, and you'll need to replace the dust bags occasionally. The dock also takes up more space than a standard charging station, and we would've preferred a larger dust bag to cut down on trips to the trash. It also struggled a bit with pet hair on thicker rugs, though its strong suction helps lift stubborn debris—it just takes a few extra passes. Ultimately, your home should be a safe space with clean air—and the Bespoke Jet is a tool that helps make that possible.
There's nothing more rewarding than pushing the button on the Samsung station and seeing the dust and dirt drop from the stick dust bin without having to touch it.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What About Suction Power?
Suction power is a key factor in how well a vacuum removes dirt, allergens, and debris, especially from carpets. While cordless stick vacuums were once seen as underpowered, many modern models now rival the suction of traditional vacuums.
Suction Power Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Output
Miele Classic C1
Canister
3957 pascals
Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra
Upright
2389 pascals
Dyson Gen5detect
Cordless Stick
2388 pascals
Dyson V15s Submarine
Cordless Stick
1916 pascals
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
1767 pascals
Levoit VortexIQ 40
Cordless Stick
622 pascals
Shark Stratos
Upright
547 pascals
Shark Vertex
Cordless Stick
323 pascals
Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe
Upright
124 pascals
Our testing shows suction power varies more by brand than vacuum type, with premium models like Miele and Dyson reaching thousands of pascals—far above budget models that barely top 200. But suction alone doesn't determine performance. Head design, airflow, and intake all play a role, and too much suction can make vacuums harder to push, especially on high-pile carpets. If maneuverability is a concern, look for models with adjustable suction or height settings to balance power with ease of use.
We constructed a new testing platform to measure the suction power for all vacuums. A differential pressure meter connected by a hose is positioned on the underside of a small hole in the middle of the platform. Measurement units are taken in inches of water that we've converted to pascals to compare vacuum results better.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Finding the Best Value Vacuum
Not all of us can afford to dish out hundreds of dollars for a vacuum. Some of us also don't need the flashy features that hike up the costs of our cleaning tools. Below is a selection of our winners from each of the major categories to give you an idea of the costs associated with each vacuum category.
Value Ratings Table
Type
Overall Score
MSRP
Value Rating
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
72
$83
1
2
3
4
5
Eureka OmniVerse
Upright
74
$230
1
2
3
4
5
Levoit LVAC-200
Cordless Stick
62
$200
1
2
3
4
5
Miele Classic C1
Canister
81
$349
1
2
3
4
5
Shark Stratos
Upright
76
$388
1
2
3
4
5
Shark Vertex
Cordless Stick
74
$450
1
2
3
4
5
Dyson Gen5detect
Cordless Stick
82
$800
1
2
3
4
5
In general, cordless stick vacuums have higher price tags. They are new to the vacuum world, wielding sophisticated compact batteries and motors that hike up the costs. Canister and upright vacuums are often priced similarly, ranging from $80 to over $500. As you see above, you do not need to compromise performance to get a valuable product. However, there are certainly trade-offs for budget models, so it's important to consider what is important to you.
The Complete C3 is one of the few equipped with an effective HEPA filter.
Beyond cleaning performance, there are many important factors to help solidify your vacuum selection.
Beyond the initial price tag, a vacuum's real value comes from how well it fits into your routine, making cleaning easier, faster, and less of a hassle. Lightweight, maneuverable designs reduce fatigue, and versatile models that adapt to multiple tasks—like stick vacuums that convert to handhelds or uprights with extended reach—can replace the need for extra tools. Additional attachments also extend cleaning to more than just floors, making a better tool for the whole house.
Long-term maintenance also matters: bagless vacuums save on ongoing costs but can be messier to empty, while bagged models are cleaner but require ongoing purchases. Washable filters help cut down on replacements, making them more budget-friendly over time. When you factor in usability, adaptability, and upkeep, the best-value vacuum isn't just about what you pay upfront—it's about how much easier it makes your life.
Our New Testing Process
In this updated review, we've introduced a more in-depth testing process across all vacuum categories to give you clearer, more accurate comparisons. New tests focus on key performance areas like filtration—measuring how well each vacuum contains fine particles—and suction power, giving insight into how efficiently they lift debris. We also now record the percentage of debris each vacuum picks up during cleaning tests, allowing us to directly compare results across models. These improvements help ensure our recommendations are based on real-world performance, not just features on paper.
We tally more than 25 individual tests for each product we test in vacuum categories.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Alongside our objective measurements, like battery life, noise level, and weight, we also spend time observing how each vacuum performs in real use. We look at things like how easy it is to maneuver around furniture, how smoothly it transitions between surfaces, and how simple it is to empty or maintain. This mix of hands-on experience and data-driven testing gives a well-rounded view of each vacuum—highlighting not just how powerful it is, but how it actually feels and functions in everyday cleaning.
We begin by identifying the most common cleaning challenges in real homes, then design a thorough review process to see how well each vacuum tackles those issues.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why You Should Trust Our Team
I'm Jessica Riconscente, GearLab's Vacuum Editor. I've tested every vacuum category, logging hundreds of hours in the lab cleaning up carefully measured messes. There's no category I rely on more than vacuums; I count on my own lineup daily to tackle relentless dog hair and the dirt I drag in from my outdoor adventures.
I'm joined by our Senior Review Analyst, Austin Palmer. He has been at the forefront of vacuum testing from our humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. He is our most experienced tester at GearLab, having tested more than 100 categories and knows vacuums inside and out, especially with two kids at home putting them to the test daily. His sharp eye helps us spot real performance, whether in the lab or mid–cereal spill.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Review Analyst, Rachael Lamore is the mastermind behind our new testing protocols. She has been working hard to provide numbers for all our testing to give a clean comparison of performances. Her technical background working in laboratories helped garner a systematic approach to our testing in our in-house facility. Her strong attention to detail ensures each and every product is held to the same standard.
In the past few years, our team has completely updated our vacuum testing—from top to bottom—to give you the clearest, most accurate reviews possible.
Conclusion
When it comes to buying vacuums, it's important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, especially if your home features a variety of surfaces and cleaning needs. While some vacuums excel in specific tasks, such as deep carpet cleaning or quick daily sweeps, others are designed for specialized jobs like cleaning up wet messes or tackling pet hair. In many cases, having an arsenal of vacuums can be the most effective approach to staying fully equipped for any situation.
There's plenty to choose from our lineup!
Credit: Abriah Wofford
—Jessica Riconscente, Rachael Lamore, and Austin Palmer
